Sealed LP's

[Audioman]

Trust me - don't EVER open and play that one Al!

Don't sell it without opening is my advice as this pressing run was notorious for bad copies. I had 3 copies from Amazon at the same time and mixed and matched to get a good set.

Keeping OOP LPs sealed is asking for trouble. I would put my overall fault rate for vinyl at around 10% plus over the years. Chances when you open it there will be a scratch or warp. Personally I would pay more for a near mint play graded LP than a sealed NOS copy. Unfortunately there are too many 'collectors' and 'investors' out there now that are forcing prices artificially high. You may be surprised to see the amounts bid on trashed 'collectables' on ebay even when the seller is up front about the condition. Eventually the bubble will burst and people will be moving these on at lower prices.

I can't understand anybody who pays just to look at the spindle marked label on a ground up piece of old vinyl. I buy vinyl for the music. The only reason for buying expensive (mint) early pressings of any title for me is if I know that these are by far the best SQ. Also with sealed vinyl you can never be certain in most cases of the label version and pressing matrix hidden inside, so making it impossible to establish you are getting what you are paying for. Also beware of reseals. I suppose you are safe for records from the last 20 years or audiophile titles that have one limited pressing, but still run the risk of a bad copy.

[The Black Adder]

Bloody ell.. Kate Bush Aerial goes for nuts money... I thought Goldfrapps Felt Mountain was crazy...

It would be nice if we could get figures to how many of each pressing were originally pressed.

[Audioman]

Bloody ell.. Kate Bush Aerial goes for nuts money... I thought Goldfrapps Felt Mountain was crazy...

It would be nice if we could get figures to how many of each pressing were originally pressed.

Don't know how many of Ariel but I would bet 1 in 3 will have serious pressing flaws. Strange about Felt Mountain as Amazon were selling them cheap only a few years ago. Appears profiteers move on as soon as something goes OOP. This was a slow mover for 6 or 7 years or they must have pressed a lot of copies.

[MartinT]

Don't forget to reseal them when you're done.

[The Black Adder]

Don't know how many of Ariel but I would bet 1 in 3 will have serious pressing flaws. Strange about Felt Mountain as Amazon were selling them cheap only a few years ago. Appears profiteers move on as soon as something goes OOP. This was a slow mover for 6 or 7 years or they must have pressed a lot of copies.

Felt Mountian seems to be on average £80 - £100. Glad I've got a copy to play... not paying that.

[Rare Bird]

Well times are hard £££ everyone seems to be taking the piss these days.

[The Black Adder]

+1 - Yep... my recent experience with a seller on Discogs has shown that.

[Thing Fish]

When I was a young man I used to collect Queen Vinyl and have a few still sealed including most of their 12" singles from Germany.

I sold a mint Roger Taylor album about 2 years ago for £700. So it can pay to keep them sealed...

I haven't done it since though.

[WOStantonCS100]

"Still Sealed" or "SS" = We've no idea what condition it's in or whether the pressing is good or junk. Nevertheless, we want you to pay crazy money for it. Poo's on you if it turns out to be a turd. Good luck and place your bid!

[Audioman]

Felt Mountian seems to be on average £80 - £100. Glad I've got a copy to play... not paying that.

Just Checked my Amazon account - paid £7.99 each for Black Cherry and Felt Mountain in 2006. A copy of FM went for £50 recently on Ebay.